Velocipede



April 11, 1939.

' A.- M GREGOR VELOCIPEDE Filed April 16, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l nil/$678907,

(Smwr April 11, 1939.

A. L. M GREGOR VELOCIPEDE Filed April 16, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 16,

3 Claims.

This invention pertains to velocipedes, and more particularly to velocipedes of the type that are steered by the feet and propelled by the arms and hands of the rider. In its preferred form herein disclosed the vehicle is a tricycle with a single driving wheel behind and a pair of steering wheels in front,

Among the objects of the invention have been, to provide a substantially all metal velocipede of this type for childrens use of exce tionally stron rugged and durable construction, to provide a velocipede combining a high degree of strength with light weight and ease of propulsion, to provide a velocipede of such design that the center of gravity of the vehicle and its rider will be low and hence not easily upset sidewise, to provide a propulsion means that will be elastic, noiseless and will afford to the child using it not only the zest of riding, but healthful and muscle-building exercise of arms, shoulders and chest, to provide a vehicle capable of being propelled at a considerable speed through the use of a single comparatively large diameter driving wheel in rear of the riders seat, and to provide a tricycle of the type having a pair of front steering wheels and a front axle structure so co-ordinated with and related to the main frame as to permit turning movements in a short radius without the steering wheels binding on the frame.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will be understood by persons familiar with childrens vehicles of this character from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated a preferred form of the invention, and wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the velocipede.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly broken away and in section.

Fig. 3 is an inner side elevation of the intermediate drive pulley.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a of Fig. 2.

The frame structure comprises a pair of symmetrical, longitudinal side bars ID preferably having the form shown in the plan view, Fig. 2, and front and rear end bars II and I2 respectively, the side bars I0 being extended a short distance beyond the front transverse bar II to form parallel arms I3 in and between which the propulsion lever is pivoted as hereinafter described.

5 vertical section on the line 5-5 1936, Serial No. 74,672

The parts II], I I, I2 and I3 preferably consist of an integral casting, and the frame structure also includes a central longitudinal upright member consisting of a rear arched portion I4, an

intermediate flat, substantially horizontal portion l5, and a downwardly and forwardly curved front portion I6. As shown in Fig. 2, the lower end of the arched portion I4 is riveted to the rear transverse member I2 of the frame, and the lower end of the front portion I6 is similarly riveted to the front end member II of the frame. For greater strength and rigidity, the seat portion I5 is supported upon a transverse limb of an inverted U-shaped strut H, the lower ends of which are riveted to the side bars ID, and the said side bars are also connected laterally by an integral transverse brace l8 (Fig, 2).

Mountedon the rear frame member I4 is a wheel guard I9, and mounted on the iiitermediate portion I5 is a wooden seat 20. On one of the longitudinal side bars II] of the frame is an integral upstanding bracket 2I in the upper portion of which is formed a horizontal slot 22.

J ournaled in and between the rear portions of the frame members I0 is a driving wheel 23 preferably equipped with the usual solid rubber tire.

Describing now the propulsion and steering means, fast with said driving wheel is a pulley 24 formed with a V-groove. Extending through the slot 22 of bracket 2|, is a stub shaft 25 that forms the axle of a transmission pulley comprising a rim 26 having a V-shaped groove, radial spokes 21, and a hub 28 (Fig. 4) journaled on shaft 25. On'the outer end of shaft 25 is a nut 29, and between bracket 2I and hub 28 is a spacing washer 30. A silent drive V-belt BI is trained over the pulleys 24 and 26, its tension being adjusted by a screw 62 mounted in the bracket 2| and bearing against the stub shaft 25. Piyoted on the inner end of the shaft 25 is the inner end of a crank arm 3I, the free end of which carries a wrist pin 32; the arm being confined on the shaft by a nut 33 and washer 34. The arm 3| is cast with a longitudinal rib 35 formed with a transverse hole 36. Extending loosely through the hole 36 is a rod 31, the ends of which are secured in a pair of lugs 38 on the inner face of the pulley rim 26. Encircling rod 31 and confined under tension between thelugs 38 and the rib 35 are a pair of cushion springs 63. Pivoted on the wrist pin 32 is a shackle 39 having a tapped end into which is screwed one end of a pitman rod 40, the rod being secured in the shackle by a lock nut 4| and washer 42. The other end of the pitman rod 40 screws into the tapped end of a similar shackle 43 that, as best shown in Fig. 2, is pivoted on a lateral pin 44 on the handle lever 45. This handle lever is pivoted at its lower end on a pivot pin 46 (Fig. 2) mounted in and between the arms I 3 of the main frame, and the upper end of the lever 45 carries a handle 41 of a size and shape to be conveniently grasped by the two hands of the rider.

48 designates each of the front steering wheels that are mounted on the ends of a straight axle shaft 49. Suspended from the shaft 49 is a yoke comprising a flat horizontal intermediate portion 50 and a pair of upstanding arms 5| that are pivoted on the axle 49. The forward portion of the main frame is cast with a centrally apertured spider 52 (Figs. 2 and 5) that rests on the upper side of the transverse limb 50 of the yoke, and the parts 52 and 50 are centrally apertured to receive a king bolt 53. On the outer sides of the frame bars l are cast segments 54 formed with-arcuate slots 55 in which play upstanding pins 56 on the yoke bar 50. The spider 52 and segments 54 form in effect a fifth wheel, and the slots 55 and pins 56 limit the angular swing of the front axle structure so that the wheels 48 cannot bind against the sides of the frame.

Pivoted at 51 to lateral extensions of the arms 511 of the yoke are the two ends of a spring bar 58 that has the dual function of a fender or bumper and a foot-operated steering bar. The pivots 5'! are slightly offset laterally of the axle bar 49, and the inner ends of the arms of the fender are extended to underlie the axle shaft 49 (Fig. 5), so that the fender is normally supported in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the use of the vehicle, the child, supported on the seat 20, places his feet on the ends of the fender 58 and, grasping the handle 41 of the propulsion lever, works the latter back and forth, thus transmitting the power through the described transmission mechanism to the pulley 24 of the driving wheel. The angular direction of movement is, of course, controlled by a forward push of either the right or left foot on the steering bar 58, and the described propulsion mechanism enables the vehicle to be positively propelled in either a forward or rearward direction.

For greater strength, an oblique brace 59 (Fig. l) is preferably interposed between the seat-sup porting frame portion i5 and the king bolt 53, and the sides of the seat board 20 are also preferably attached to the strut brace H by bolts Ell.

It is believed that the foregoing description of the structural features of the vehicle will make clear how the stated purposes and objects of the invention are secured.

Variations and changes in the structural details may, of course, be resorted to within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A propulsion mechanism for a three wheel velocipede having a frame formed with longitudinal side members, transverse end members, and a central longitudinal upright member secured at its ends to said end members, a single driving wheel journaled betweenthe rear portions of said side members, a front axle structure vertically swiveled at its center to the front portion of said frame, steering wheels on the ends of said front axle structure, and a seat mounted on said central longitudinal frame member in advance of said driving wheel, comprising a propulsion lever pivoted at its lower end to the front end of said frame, a transmission pulley journaled on the intermediate portion of said frame beneath said seat and formed with a peripheral V-groove, a pulley attached directly to said driving wheel and formed with a peripheral V-groove, a drive belt of V-cross section trained over said pulleys, and a pitman connection between the intermediate portion of said propulsion lever and said transmission pulley.

2. A propulsion mechanism for a tricycle having a frame, a single driving wheel journaled in the rear portion of said frame, a front axle structure swiveled on the front portion of said frame, steering wheels on said front axle structure, and a drivers seat on said frame, comprising a propulsion lever pivoted at its lower end to the forward end of said frame, a pulley directly attached to said driving wheel, a pulley shaft mounted on and substantially mid-length of said frame, a transmission pulley journaled on said shaft, a driving belt trained over said pulleys, a crank arm pivoted on said shaft, a wrist pin on said crank arm, a pitman connecting said propulsion lever to said wrist pin, and cushioning members mounted on said transmission pulley bearing on opposite sides respectively of said crank arm.

3. A propulsion mechanism for a tricycle having a frame, a single driving Wheel journaled in the rear portion of said frame, a front axle structure swiveled on the front portion of said frame, steering wheels on said front axle structure, and a drivers seat on said frame, comprising a propulsion lever pivoted at its lower end to the forward end of said frame and provided on its upper end with a handle bar, a pulley directly attached to said driving wheel, a pulley shaft mounted on and substantially mid-length of said frame, transmission pulley journaled on said shaft, 2. driving belt trained over said pulleys, a crank arm pivoted on said shaft, said crank arm having a transverse opening, a wrist pin on the free end of said crank arm, a pitman connecting said propulsion lever to said wrist pin, lugs on said transmission pulley on opposite sides respectively of said crank arm, a rod mounted at its ends in said lugs and extending loosely through the transverse opening of said crank arm, and compression springs encircling said rod and confined endwise between said lugs and said crank arm.

ALLAN L, MCGRE GOR. 

